Friday, January 4, 2013

As posted earlier, 2012 was the warmest year on record for many major cities in the Northeast. Preliminary data from the Northeast Regional Climate Center in the table below show that it was also the warmest on record for 8 of the 12 states in the region and for the region overall.

An intense summer heatwave with temperatures in excess of 45°C in mainland Australia has spilled over to Tasmania, where Hobart has reported its all-time record hottest day in 132 years of climate data on January 4 (Australian time). Weather Channel Australia reports:

Hobart recorded it’s hottest day in 132 years of records just before 2pm today, with 41.3˚C. This broke the previous record of 40.8˚C recorded on January 4, 1976.

Overnight the temperature in Hobart remained above 25˚C, 13˚C above average and the warmest part of the state. The official low will be recorded as 23.6˚C from 9am yesterday, Hobart's highest January minimum on record.

The extreme heat is due to a northerly airstream from the mainland. The northerlies will strengthen today, causing severe to extreme fire dangers through eastern, central and northern Tasmania.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

The National Weather Service has reported that 2012 was the record or near-record warmest year at many major climate locations across all of the Midwest. Most of these include periods of record dating back at least a century:

Illinois:
THE AVERAGE TEMEPRATURE FOR 2012 FOR CHICAGO WAS 54.5
DEGREES...MAKING THIS THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD. THE PREVIOUS
RECORD WAS 54.4 DEGREES IN 1921.
RECORDS FOR CHICAGO DATE BACK TO 1872.
THE AVERAGE TEMEPRATURE FOR 2012 FOR ROCKFORD WAS 53.1
DEGREES...MAKING THIS THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD. THE PREVIOUS
RECORD WAS 52.8 DEGREES IN 1931.
RECORDS FOR ROCKFORD DATE BACK TO 1906.
2012 RANKED AS THE SECOND WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD FOR BOTH PEORIA AND
SPRINGFIELD. AN UNUSUALLY WARM JANUARY THROUGH JULY PERIOD...INCLUDING
UNPRECEDENTED MARCH TEMPERATURES...CONTRIBUTED TO THE OVERALL WARMTH THIS
YEAR. THE TOP FIVE WARMEST YEARS ARE LISTED BELOW. RECORDS FOR PEORIA DATE
BACK TO 1883...AND SPRINGFIELD DATE BACK TO 1879.
PEORIA
1) 1931 - 55.6 F
2) 2012 - 55.4 F
3) 1921 - 55.2 F
4) 1938 - 54.2 F
5) 1941 - 54.0 F
SPRINGFIELD
1) 1931 - 57.5 F
2) 2012 - 57.3 F
3) 1921 - 57.1 F
4) 1938 - 57.0 F
5) 1946 - 56.6 F
Missouri:

2012 was the 2nd warmest and 10th driest year on record for Springfield. While overall average temperatures were the 2nd warmest on record...2012 did feature the warmest average high temperatures ever recorded...at 71 degrees. The previous record was 70.1 degrees...set in 2006.

The temperature never fell into the single digits in 2012...which is a rarity. In fact...through new years morning...it has been a record 690 days (and counting) since single digit temperatures were last observed in Springfield. The previous record was 406 days...ending on March 10 1998. Temperatures last fell into the single digits in Springfield on February 11 2011...when the low temperature was 5 degrees.

Persistently warm weather greeted much of the eastern three-quarters of the country in the year 2012, including the bi-state region. In fact, 2012 was the warmest calendar year on record at St. Louis, MO (KSTL) and Columbia, MO (KCOU), and 8th warmest ever at Quincy, IL (KUIN). The record warmth in 2012 was especially bolstered during meteorological spring (March - May) where the month of March at all three locations experienced record warmth. Summer was also well above normal, with all three sites in the top 10 warmest on record. Detailed lists of the top 10 warmest calendar years can be found below:

Warmth became the main weather story throughout the year across Central Indiana [Indianapolis]. 2012 set the record for warmest year since records began in 1871. Below is a table of warmest years on record:

Year Average Temp.
2012 57.0
1921 56.5
1931 56.3
1998 56.0
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FOR SOUTH BEND DURING 2012 WAS 53.3 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT. THIS MAKES 2012 THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD AT SOUTH
BEND...BREAKING THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 53.0 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT IN
1998. RECORDS DATE BACK TO 1893 AT SOUTH BEND.
THE AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT SOUTH BEND WAS 63.2 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT FOR 2012. THIS SETS A NEW RECORD FOR WARMEST AVERAGE HIGH
TEMPERATURE...BREAKING THE OLD RECORD OF 62.3 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT IN
1946 AND 1931.
THE AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT FORT WAYNE WAS 64.5 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT FOR 2012. THIS SETS A NEW RECORD FOR WARMEST ANNUAL
AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE...BREAKING THE OLD RECORD OF 62.9 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT IN 1998 AND 1953. RECORDS DATE BACK TO 1912 AT FORT
WAYNE.
Ohio:
THE YEAR 2012 FINISHED AS THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD FOR COLUMBUS
SINCE COMPLETE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE RECORDS BEGAN THERE IN 1879.
TOP 10 WARMEST YEARS ON RECORD
CINCINNATI COLUMBUS DAYTON
1. 58.1 / 1881 1. 56.6 / 2012* 1. 56.2 / 1921
2. 57.3 / 1882 2. 56.4 / 1998 2. 56.0 / 1931
3. 57.2 / 1913 3. 55.5 / 1931 3. 55.5 / 1946
57.2 / 1874 4. 55.4 / 1991 4. 55.3 / 2012*
5. 57.1 / 2012* 55.4 / 1921 5. 55.2 / 1998
57.1 / 1921 6. 55.3 / 1938 6. 55.1 / 1938
57.1 / 1878 7. 55.0 / 2007 7. 54.7 / 1944
8. 57.0 / 1880 55.0 / 1946 54.7 / 1939
9. 56.9 / 1931 9. 54.9 / 1999 9. 54.6 / 1896
10. 56.8 / 1911 54.9 / 1939 10. 54.5 / 1922
NORMAL: 54.1 NORMAL: 53.0 NORMAL: 52.1
THE YEAR 2012 WAS WARM AND RECORDS FOR ANNUAL WARMTH WERE SET OVER
NORTHERN OHIO AND NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN AKRON-CANTON WAS 53.7 DEGREES. THIS MAKES
2012 THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD AND REPLACES THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF
53.5 DEGREES SET IN 1931.
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN CLEVELAND WAS 54 DEGREES. THIS MAKES 2012
THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD AND REPLACES THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 53.5
SET IN 1998.
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN ERIE PENNSYLVANIA WAS 53 DEGREES. THIS
MAKES 2012 THE SECOND WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD. THE RECORD IS 53.1 SET
IN 1998.
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN MANSFIELD WAS 52.9 DEGREES. THIS TIES
2012 FOR THE SECOND WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD. 1973 ALSO HAD AN AVERAGE
TEMPERATURE OF 52.9 DEGREES. THE RECORD IS 53.4 SET IN 1921.
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN TOLEDO WAS 53 DEGREES. THIS MAKES 2012
THE FOURTH WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD. THE RECORD IS 53.6 SET IN 1921.
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN YOUNGSTOWN WAS 52.2 DEGREES. THIS MAKES
2012 THE SIXTH WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD. THE RECORD IS 54.2 SET IN
1931.
Michigan:
A YEARLY RECORD HIGH AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 52.6 DEGREES WAS SET AT
MUSKEGON MI DURING 2012.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 50.9 SET IN 1998.
A YEARLY RECORD HIGH AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 51.7 DEGREES WAS SET AT
LANSING MI DURING 2012.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 50.6 SET IN 1921.
A YEARLY RECORD HIGH AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 52.9 DEGREES WAS SET AT
GRAND RAPIDS MI DURING 2012.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 52.4 SET IN 1921.

2012 will be remembered as the warmest on record for Rochester. March crushed its previous warmest on record by over 6 degrees, setting 18 daily high temperature records. On the whole, 33 daily records were set or tied for warmth, with the no cold records. July baked the region and was the 4th warmest month on record for Rochester. Amazingly, 7 months in 2012 set top 10 records for warmth with 2/3rds of the days recording above normal temperatures.
Seasonal:
Warmest spring on record at 53.8 degrees.
2nd warmest summer on record at 72.4 degrees.
Yearly:
Warmest year on record with 50.2 degrees

The official climate locations of Duluth, MN and International Falls, MN will both finish the year as the 3rd warmest since records began. Below are the current rankings for warmest average annual temperature.

* With an average temperature of 56.0 degrees, 2012 was the warmest year on record in Des Moines. This smashes the old record of 54.5 degrees set back in 1931.
* There were 42 daily records set this year, this ties the number of daily records in a year also set 1936. The next highest of any year is 35 set in 1991. These records include 2 for daily record snowfall, 4 for daily record precipitation, 16 for daily high minimum temperature and 20 for daily record high temperature.
* The 20 daily record high temperatures for 2012 is the most of any year on record. Two years have 19 daily record high temperatures – 1934 and 1936.
* There were 279 days without measurable snowfall starting on March 5th and extending through December 8th. This is the longest streak on record without measurable snowfall. The old record was 277 days set in 1889.
* There were 244 days that had above normal temperatures, 100 days of below normal temperatures with 22 days recording normal temperatures.
* There were 120 days this year that had a departure of 10 degrees or more above normal compared to 15 days of 10 degrees or more below normal. In other words, almost one-third of all days this year were 10 degrees or more above normal.
* There were 60 days this year that had a departure of 15 degrees or more above normal compared to 2 days of 15 degrees or more below normal.
* There were 21 days this year that had a departure of 20 degrees or more above normal compared to no days of 20 degrees or more below normal.
* There were twelve days this year with an average temperature of 25 degree or more above normal. Seven of these occurred in March and early April during the extraordinary warmth during that time.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

As previously noted, 2012 was the warmest year on record for Washington, DC. It was also the record warmest at many other locations in the Mid Atlantic area. From National Weather Service reports:

Delaware:
2012 WAS THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD AT WILMINGTON WITH AN AVERAGE
TEMPERATURE OF 57.5 DEGREES. THE PREVIOUS WARMEST ON RECORD WAS
1973, WHEN THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS 57.2 DEGREES.
New Jersey:
2012 WAS THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD AT TRENTON WITH AN AVERAGE
TEMPERATURE OF 57.1 DEGREES. THE PREVIOUS WARMEST ON RECORD WAS
2011, WHEN THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS 56.5 DEGREES.
2012 WAS THE SECOND WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD AT ATLANTIC CITY WITH AN
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 57.1 DEGREES. THE WARMEST ON RECORD WAS 2011,
WHEN THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS 57.2 DEGREES.
Pennsylvania:
2012 TIED 1998 FOR THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD AT READING WITH AN
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 56.3 DEGREES.
2012 WAS THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD AT PHILADELPHIA WITH AN AVERAGE
TEMPERATURE OF 58.9 DEGREES. THE TWO PREVIOUS WARMEST ON RECORD WERE
1931 AND 1998, WHEN THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS 58.2 DEGREES.
2012 WAS THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD AT ALLENTOWN WITH AN AVERAGE
TEMPERATURE OF 54.7 DEGREES. THE PREVIOUS WARMEST ON RECORD WAS
1998, WHEN THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS 54.1 DEGREES.
2012 WAS THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD AT MOUNT POCONO WITH AN AVERAGE
TEMPERATURE OF 49.4 DEGREES. THE PREVIOUS WARMEST ON RECORD WAS
2011, WHEN THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE WAS 48.3 DEGREES.
Virginia:
..YEARLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURES
CITY (PERIOD OF RECORD) AVG TEMP
ROANOKE VA (1912-2012) 59.5 1ST HOTTEST YEAR ON RECORD

The National Weather Service is reporting that 2012 was the warmest year on record at many official long-period climate locations in New England and New York. At New York's Central Park, where records have been kept for 144 years, the annual average of 57.3° surpassed the previous record tied in 1998/1991/1990. The previous warmest years at New York were:

AVG HIGH AVG LOW AVG MEAN PCPN SNOW REMARKS
-------- ------- -------- ---- ---- -------
Boston 61.5 46.9 54.2 36.73 12.1 ALL-TIME WARMEST
+2.7 +2.9 +2.8 -7.04 -31.7
Hartford 63.6 43.7 53.7 38.44 30.2 ALL TIME WARMEST
+2.9 +3.4 +3.2 -7.41 -10.3
Providence 62.7 44.9 53.8 41.19 26.1 2ND WARMEST
+2.1 +2.4 +2.2 -5.99 -7.7
Worcester 59.2 43.1 51.2 43.88 49.7 ALL-TIME WARMEST
+3.2 +3.5 +3.4 -4.19 -14.4
2012 WAS THE WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD AT BURLINGTON VERMONT...WITH A
HISTORICAL DATABASE DATING BACK TO 1884. THE YEARLY MEAN
TEMPERATURE WAS 50.0 DEGREES...OR 4.0 DEGREES ABOVE THE 1981-2010
AVERAGE OF 46.0 DEGREES. THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS YEARLY RECORD OF
48.4 DEGREES SET IN 1998. THE NEW TOP 5 ANNUAL MEAN TEMPERATURES
CAN BE SEEN BELOW:
1- 50.0 (2012)
2- 48.4 (1998)
3- 48.2 (2006)
4- 48.1 (2010)
5- 48.1 (1898)
THE YEAR 2012 SAW RECORD AVERAGE TEMPERATURES AT SYRACUSE NY,
BINGHAMTON NY, AND AVOCA PA.
FOR SYRACUSE NY, THE MEAN TEMPERATURE WAS RECORDED AT 52.5
DEGREES. THE PRIOR RECORD WAS 51.5 DEGREES SET IN THE YEAR 1931.
FOR BINGHAMTON NY, THE MEAN TEMPERATURE WAS RECORDED AT 49.4
DEGREES. THE PRIOR RECORD WAS 49.2 DEGREES SET IN THE YEAR 1998.
FOR AVOCA PA, THE MEAN TEMPERATURE WAS RECORDED AT 53.0 DEGREES.
THE PRIOR RECORD WAS 52.4 DEGREES SET IN THE YEAR 1921.
FOR SYRACUSE AND AVOCA THE MEAN TEMPERATURE WAS SET BY AS MUCH AS
0.5 DEGREE, BREAKING RECORDS THAT HAVE STOOD FOR OVER 81 AND 91
YEARS, RESPECTIVELY.
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FOR ALBANY NY FOR 2012 WAS 51.6 DEGREES
WHICH IS 3.3 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. THIS MAKES IT THE WARMEST YEAR ON
RECORD SINCE 1820. THE OLD RECORD WAS 51.4 DEGREES SET BACK IN 1828.
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FOR GLENS FALLS NY FOR 2012 WAS 48.7 DEGREES
WHICH IS 3.8 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. THIS MAKES IT THE SECOND WARMEST
YEAR ON RECORD SINCE 1949. THE WARMEST YEAR OCCURRED IN 1998 WITH AN
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 48.8 DEGREES.
THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE FOR POUGHKEEPSIE NY FOR 2012 WAS 53.4
DEGREES WHICH IS 3.6 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. THIS MAKES IT THE WARMEST
YEAR ON RECORD SINCE 1949.